The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have revealed plans to save £158m a year - by cutting a number of job centres, including Farnworth.

The plans, released on Thursday, will cut 78 offices across the UK and put around 750 jobs at risk, as well as leaving hundreds of out of work people at risk of sanctions as they struggle to attend meetings due much further away from their homes.

Kevin Walsh, Liberal Democrat campaigner for Farnworth and Harper Green said:

"Farnworth job centre provides an essential service for thousands of residents across Farnworth and Kearsley. These cuts are going to hit already struggling families hard as they face long commutes and increased costs in order to get the help and support they need to get back into work

"This is yet another initiative that will lead to sanctions to those most in need and I urge the government to look again at the plans. Here in Farnworth we already have a high rate of unemployment and people struggling to get by, with two more local foodbanks opening recently to help support those hit hardest by these Tory cuts. We need to be making it easier for people to access work, this just makes things much more difficult."

"We are calling on the government to scrap this plan and ensure out local job centre can continue to deliver the essential service they provide to our local community."